Phylum Platyhelminthes
Flatworms are mostly parasites. They take nutrients from their host so that they use a small amount of energy searching for food and breaking down food. However, the relationship between this host and parasite is only beneficial for the parasite. Eventually, the host can have severe life-threatening symptoms from the flatworm infection. Let's investigate an infection by the pork tapeworm and adopt a pork tapeworm to discover the complicated life cycle of the pork tapeworm.



Tapeworm Infection and MythsObjectives:1. We can describe how a pork tapeworm infection affects the human body.2. We can identify some of the myths that people have about tapeworms. Copy the following questions into your notebook. Go to the following websites to answer these questions:Pork Tapeworm InfectionTapeworm Myths1. What is the scientific name of the pork tapeworm?2. What do you call an infection by the pork tapeworm?3. What are the symptoms of a pork tapeworm infection?4. How do you treat a pork tapeworm infection?5. What are some of the myths about tapeworms?6. Have tapeworms really been used for dieting? If so, what type of tapeworm is usually used for this, and describe the process of using tapeworms for weight loss.




The Life Cycle of a Tapeworm
Objectives:
1. We can describe the life cycle of a pork tapeworm.
2. We can identify the primary host in a parasite life cycle.
3. We can identify the secondary host in a parasite life cycle.

A tapeworm has a very unique life cycle. It lives inside two different hosts during its lifetime. First, it lives inside the primary host. Then, it lives inside the secondary host. Go to this website to adopt a tapeworm. Arrange its life cycle in order. Sketch it in your notebook and label the primary host and secondary host.

Adopt a Tapeworm